NSA spying on website visitors..

"NEW YORK (AP) -- The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite strict federal rules banning most of them.

These files, known as 'cookies,' disappeared after a privacy activist complained and The Associated Press made inquiries this week, and agency officials acknowledged Wednesday they had made a mistake....

Don Weber, an NSA spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday that the cookie use resulted from a recent software upgrade. Normally, the site uses temporary, permissible cookies that are automatically deleted when users close their Web browsers, he said, but the software in use shipped with persistent cookies already on." read on...

What was that? Another "oops" in the War on Terror where they keep their illegal activities operable only until someone tells on them. Much like the street criminal who continues to steal until he gets caught. Common crooks, they are.

BTW, how come a spy agency, supposedly as technologically sophisticated and ultra-secret as the NSA not know exactly what the cookie would do when they installed it? Are we to beleive that the US's largest intelligence agency is so incompetent that they don't know what's on their own software? The explanation by Mr. Weber doesn't pass the sniff test. IMHO, they knew exactly what they were doing, and that it was illegal.

Eat them up, yum.

Ex Mizzou Great Released From US Custody in Iraq

Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, aka: "Mrs. Anthrax;" "Chemical Sally;" "The 39th Most Wanted Iraqi;" "Five of Hearts;" and "MU Tiger(huh?);" was released from US custody in Iraq on December 19.

According to the BushGang, she was head of Saddam Hussein's bio-weapons program. Except that there wasn't one. Oops.
US officials claim that she is no longer a security threat and that Iraqi law allows her release.

Why now? In the wake of Iraq’s elections, U.S. officials hope to indicate to hard-line Sunnis and some former Saddam loyalists that they too have a stake in the new Iraq. Sunni insurgents often have demanded prisoner releases as a condition for ending their violent rebellion. A particularly ruthless group of Sunni kidnappers specifically demanded that Iraqi women detainees—Ammash and Taha key among them—be freed last year after Briton Kenneth Bigley was taken hostage. He was killed in September 2004 after the kidnappers’ deadline passed. [...]
The timing of the gestures of leniency also came just a few days after President George W. Bush conceded that 2003 intelligence reports on Iraq’s purported WMD programs were flawed. Now we’re being told by media quoting a former Western arms inspector, that Ammash was cooperative in detention and provided U.S. interrogators with credible evidence that Saddam did not have an active WMD program before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Dr. Ammash has studied and written about the damaging environmental and biological impact of the first Gulf War, so naturally she was an enemy of the Bush Cabal. She also suffers from cancer that may very well have been caused by Gulf War I's resultant "mixture of toxic, radiological, chemical and electromagnetic exposure."

In other Mizzou news...
Mizzou Math Prof Solves 40 Year Old Problem. The humble Dr. Steven Hofmann solves the Kato Conjecture, downplays his acheivement. Congratulations Dr. Hofmann, you pretty much rock.

Friday afternoon, the Mizzou Football Tigers take on the South Carolina Football Gamecocks in the something-or-other bowl. I should have more to say on this topic, being a devoted Mizzou Football fan/alumnus, and having once lived in Columbia, SC where the U of SC is. I don't, really. Spurrier is my most-hated coach, i could care less about Gamecock sports, and i don't care for Mizzou coach Pinkel, either. i think i'll go to Texas, see the Old 97's, hang with my girl and ignore the game all together. But 'go tigers!' anyway. :)

Iraqis support "cut and run"

The headline reads, "Iraqis Want U.S. Out As Soon As Possible." So, in Shrub's black & white, good and evil world of absolutes, this surely means that the Iraqi people support a policy of "cut and run" esposed by evil freedom haters such as Murtha, Pelosi, and Dean, yes?
Bush (November, 2001): "You're either with us or against us in the war on terror." Well, i guess the Iraqi people are now against us and for the terrorists. Congratulations, Mr. Bush, you have managed to create 26 million terrorists. Mission accomplished.

R.I.P.

Vincent Schiavelli 1948 - 2005

Thirty-four

...today. I don't feel any different than yesterday when i was thirty-three. Except maybe today i'm excited cuz i'm flying down to Texas to visit my favorite girlfriend of all times:

i never thought i'd say this, but i can't wait to get to Texas.

I found the home page for my old elementary school. Check it:

I checked the "History" but all they talked about was the school's history - Built in 1880, blah blah blah. No mention of past Student Council Presidents (my administration: 1982-1983), famous alumni (Phillies righty Jon Lieber), or if any of my Physical Fitness records still stood (e.g. 21 pull ups, 1983). I noticed some of the same teachers are there: Ruth Rysta, Roger Salyers, Jean Pashby, Julie Ryan. Thankfully for the kids, that mean nazi Mrs. Weitz is long gone. She had it in for me, i'm sure. She knew i was the main subversive element in the school, but she could never make many of her substantive charges stick. i got good grades and i was Student Council President (i won by one vote), i had a mandate, dammit! Jennifer Sherman, the girl i beat in the election even voted for me.
All Mrs. Weitz could do was try to nickel and dime me on technicalities and very minor rule violations. I'm sure in her mind she was positive it was i who let the air out of Mrs. Peterson's tires. Maybe it was i, maybe it was someone i had convinced it would be funny. Who knows? i had the motive: i protested Mrs. Peterson's approach to music class instruction and her "ban" on bringing The Grease Soundtrack for music appreciation time. I have since learned why she banned that record. It's filthy!
Maybe it was i who hacked into the brand new Apple IIe computer and changed Brian Arrowsmith's math scores. Okay, yeah, i got ratted out by someone i thought was loyal, and i was forced to admit to that one. Ah, misguided youthful rebellion...
Where are my old classmates from that era (besides the two that i know of who are no longer of the physical)? Where are Shad Coppock, Chad Pechacek, John Case, Jason Talcott, Shawna Benson, Danielle Bristol, Barb Paulson, Chris Skaggs? They were all very bright and talented kids who no doubt are doing well for themselves and their communities. i really would like to reconnect, or at least catch up and see how they're doing. i'll bet you a million bucks i'm the only one without a spouse and kids. i don't get up that way too often, but maybe i should try harder next time i go. i guess that's what google is for...

Operation Screw This

Recent headlines...
U.S. Troops Draw Up Own Exit Strategy BAGHDAD--..."My marines are the best-trained, best-equipped, most homesick fighting force in the world," said Staff Sgt. Cornelius Woods. "Just give us the order, and we will commandeer every available vehicle to execute a flanking maneuver on the airstrips of Mosul. By this time tomorrow, we will have retaken our positions at our families' dinner tables in full force." read on...

Voice of God Revealed To Be Cheney on Intercom WASHINGTON, DC—Telephone logs recorded by the National Security Agency and obtained by Congress as part of an ongoing investigation suggest that the vice president may have used the Oval Office intercom system to address President Bush at crucial moments, giving categorical directives in a voice the president believed to be that of God. continue...

Rove Implicated in Santa Identity Leak WASHINGTON, DC—The recent leak revealing Santa Claus to be "your mommy and daddy" has been linked to President Bush's senior political adviser and deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. onward...


Congressman Lets His Guitar Do the Talking

God bless the Onion. Be sure to check the Onion's latest Sports headlines.

Bush: "Congress saw the same intelligence I did."

Congressional Research Service: "False." Will the mainstream media finally catch on and call out the pundits and the preznit the next time this lie gets repeated? I doubt it. Thank you, Feinstein for asking. Hat tip to Josh Marshall for scooping.

George W. Bush's "War on Peace" Updates....
Brought to you by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Freedom of Information Act: Get Yours Today!!
And by Veiled Government Powers. Veiled Government Powers: Fighting the FOIA since 1966!

BushCo has been spying on US citizens without those pesky warrants. Don't you feel safer?

The Pentagon has been gathering data on peace-loving US citizens. The Pentagon is protecting us from insidious threats like the Raging Grannies. I feel safer already.

McCain amendment to be attached to Defense bill. At face value, this appears to be a big victory for McCain, human rights advocates and the United States of America over the Bush Administration. So why don't i feel satisfied? Oh yeah. A little thing called the Graham-Levin-Kyl Amendment, which will allow the US gov't to use evidence gathered via torture, and restrict detainees' rights to an independent court to review the factual basis of their detention. I guess habeas corpus is another of those "quaint" notions that BushCo. feels is obsolete in their War on Terror. sweet.

And i'm out. Peace. For real.

Decemberists, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah....

The Decemberists have signed to Capitol Records...Colin Meloy solo tour dates (same link, scroll down)...Kill Rock Stars to release Colin's college band, Tarkio anthology in January (same link, scroll down further).

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will appear on Late Night with Conan O'Brien Friday nite. Set your TiVos, VCRs, see what the fuss is all about...You Ain't No Picasso re-posts 4 "new" CYHSY songs...

War update...

The UK's Independent has some numbers after 1,000 days of war in Iraq Up: casualties; kidnappings; daily attacks. Down: Iraqi security; electricity; inflation. DEAD EVEN: WMD's found still at zero. I hope W's "Plan for Victory" is implemented soon.

The War on Christmas - classic battle between Liberal Jew Sam Seder of Air America Radio vs Bob Knight, Radical Religious Right Wing Reactionary and director of The Culture and Family Institute. SAM SEDER: "...I feel like we should be waging a war on Christmas. I mean, I believe that Christmas, it's almost proven that Christmas has nuclear weapons, can be an imminent threat to this country, that they have operative ties with terrorists and I believe that we should sacrifice thousands of American lives in pursuit of this war on Christmas. And hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money." BOB KNIGHT: [i'm paraphrasing here] "Christians are being persecuted, everyone should pray to the baby Jesus, the Nazis were against Christmas, blah, blah , blah..." Crooks and Liars has the video from CNN. Atrios has a partial transcript.

How much has the War on Drugs cost so far? Click here for up-to-the-second figures

Campuses crusade against Coke(the soft drink)

Hong Kong's War on Monkeys

Kansas' war on science:Anti-creationism KU prof. beaten, resigns

Kazakhstan's War on fictional reporter, Borat from Da Ali G show

Pregnant woman wins battle in War on Gravity

Get Your War On has been updated recently. If you're not familiar with this cartoon, start here at October 9, 2001.

Sam Beam does Six Parts Seven, Rogue Wave Bonus

I thought i'd share this song i recently rediscovered. I got "Lost Notes From Forgotten Songs" some time last year as a promo bonus from Suicide Squeeze Records. It's kind of a tribute type deal where a few singer/songwriters take a Six Parts Seven song (who are an excellent intrumental outfit), rework it and add their own lyrics. See a review here, for a better description. The following is Sam Beam's version of Sleeping Diagonally.

Sleeping Diagonally - Sam Beam

Speaking of bonus discs, i got a 4 song demo from Sub Pop when i pre-odered Rogue Wave's 2005 release, "Descended Like Vultures" a few weeks back. Here is a demo version of Publish My Love:

04 - Rogue Wave - Bonus Demos - Publish My Love
i can upload the other three RW demo songs at your request, kind and gentle reader.

Visit:

Iron & Wine
Six Parts Seven
Rogue Wave Visit RW's MySpace page. Shh! Don't tell anyone!
Enjoy!
These songs are for sampling only and will be uploadable for a limited time.

If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention

Not sure where that phrase originated, but it sure is true.
Stay informed on what to be outraged about: Fired Up Missouri, because few things are more foolish than blind rage.

Missouri's own beloved Boy Blunt now has a 34% Approval rating. That is up a tick from 33% just six months ago. So, i guess congratulations are in order? Uhh..hold up a sec. His Disapproval rating shot up from 57% to 62% during the same period. More folks are feeling Blunt Trauma, evidently.

Song Spotter: Spoon, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Monday night i was watching Kitchen Confidential on Fox. One might ask me, "Why?". I may answer, "Because i like it and it was on after Arrested Development." Like AD, i know KitchCon (i made that up) is only gonna be on a few more times before the idiots at Fox give it the axe, so i watch it looking for good qualities in order to prove just how stupid the Fox Execs are.
Anyway..Monday's episode focused on a feud between KitchCon's main character - a flawed but likeable chef at an upscale restaurant - and a chef at a rival restaurant, who is also flawed, but not ostensibly likeable. He's a womanizing, conniving, vile pig of a man. And he's French. His name is Michel. During the final scene, we learn that his last name is Valentine. My favorite Spoon song, The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine, immediately comes to mind, and seconds later, that very song comes on the TV! Wow! We then learn that Mishel V. isn't so conniving, and is not quite as vile as we had thought (but he's still a womanizing smelly Frenchman). As the show fades to black and the credits roll, you hear, "..Til you know the two sides of Monsieur Valentine." That's a tidy way to end an otherwise mediocre episode of a doomed show. It makes me wonder if the writers liked the song to begin with and wrote the whole episode around it.

I was watching The Office on NBC a coupla weeks ago. "But dude, that show is just an unimaginative American clone of the original BBC series!" I thought it sucked at first too, Mr. Inner Contrarian Dialogue Man, especially because the first few episodes consisted mostly of recycled scenes from the original. "Phooey!" i said in disapointment. But i kept watching, and i'm glad i did. It has since found its own space and i no longer find myself constantly comparing the American characters with their British counterparts. Not to mention Steve Carrel seems to have been born to play the role of Office boss Michael Scott.
Anyway...On this episode, Jim throws a party, and playing in the background is a fmiliar tune that takes me a minute to recognize. Then finally i realize it's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's song, The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth. i can't believe it took my brain that long to register it, since i've been listening to that album nonstop for a coupla months now. i think the file retreival system in my head inexplicably comes up 404 sometimes. Early dimentia?
So here are the songs i spotted on the TV for your aural pleasure. Keep in mind that these songs are for sampling purposes only. If you've not heard these two bands before and like them, seek them out. Go to their shows, buy an album or two, purchase a t-shirt. To save these songs to your computer, right click, save as...

Spoon (actually, it's just Britt Daniel) : The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine Live on KEXP
buy Spoon albums here.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth - album version
visit CYHSY here.
Enjoy!

Freedom ain't free...

...so say the sloganeers.

• Miami police to "shock and awe" random citizens by terrorizing them. This is how Florida conducts their own little War on Terror. Now shut up and show me your ID.
  
• Consumer confidence up, gas prices dip. Now be a good citizen and shop, shop, shop. If you don't, the terrorists win.
• Vatican: Homosexual love is not equivalent to hetero love. How do they know? Oh, yeah, God told them. Now shut up and pray. The Vatican has been working on this document for ten years! They are clearly obsessed.
  
• Alito supported the execution of 16 - 17 year olds. Death penalties for everyone, yay! Now shut up and climb up there on that electric chair. Here's a booster seat.
• California Rebublican Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleads guilty to taking bribes of $2.4 million. He cried at his press conference. Does anyone feel sorry for this guy? Tom DeLay called him a hero. "Freedom isn't free and neither am I. Now shut up and write me a check."
• The Iraq Debacle: The most foolish war since 9 B.C. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.
• Former Powell Chief of Staff on Cheney: "a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard." You forgot ugly, lazy, and disrespectful.
• Armored minibus carrying Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton crashes in Iraq. Skelton "doing well" in Germany. Best wishes to Ike and family, no snark.
• Bush to unveil "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" tomorrow (11/30/05, 32 months into this war!). Details will be scarce, platitudes and vagaries will be abundant. Now shut up and support the troops. Here's a magnet for your car.
  

Get one for yourself here.
Hat tip to Carol for Peace via Jesus' General

Iraqis want foreign troops out

"CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Leaders of Iraq's sharply divided Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis called Monday for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in the country and said Iraq's opposition had a `legitimate right' of resistance."
Bring 'em home!!! Yay!!

"Debate in Washington over when to bring troops home turned bitter last week after decorated Vietnam War vet Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and estimated a pullout could be complete within six months. Republicans rejected Murtha’s position."
The Iraqi leaders are basically adopting Rep. Murtha's proposal.
Will Repugnicans reject the position of the Iraqis? I'm waiting for "Mean" Jean Schmidt to call them cowards for wanting us to "cut and run".

"'Though resistance is a legitimate right for all people, terrorism does not represent resistance. Therefore, we condemn terrorism and acts of violence, killing and kidnapping targeting Iraqi citizens and humanitarian, civil, government institutions, national resources and houses of worships,' the document said."
So they are saying that targeting US-led troops and contractors is not terrorism, it's freedom fighting. Fair enough. If some foreign government invaded the US, deposed our dictator and proceeded to destroy my country, i would also prefer to be called an "insurgent," not a "terrorist."

"The final communique also stressed participants' commitment to Iraq's unity and called for the release of all "innocent detainees" who have not been convicted by courts. It asked that allegations of torture against prisoners be investigated and those responsible be held accountable."
Oh, those cute Iraqis with their quaint notions about rair trials and the concept of "innocent until proven quilty."

"The statement also demanded 'an immediate end to arbitrary raids and arrests without a documented judicial order.'"
B-b-but Uncle Dick hasn't had a chance to torture them yet!

In other Middle-East related news..
Uzbekistan is kicking the US to the curb. Well, there goes our cozy relationship with that brutal totalitarian dictator...Re-deploy the troops!!


Blair talked Bush out of bombing Saudi TV Network Al-Jazeera.
You know this Administration is fucked up when a brown-nosing lickspittle is the only one who thinks taking out an ally's asset is not a good idea. Related: I heard that Chrisopher Hitchens convinced Bush not to nuke CBS news.

POTUS: Idiot

Bush tries to duck reporters, stymied by locked door.